Dominoes are small tiles with a pattern of dots, called pips, on one side. They have a blank or identically patterned other side. The pips help to distinguish one domino from another, as each piece can only be played onto an adjacent domino of the same number. Each game of domino has its own rules and strategies. For example, some games may only allow certain types of moves to be made, while others may call for players to try to block their opponent so that he cannot make any more plays.
Dominos can be used for a variety of educational and therapeutic purposes. They are a great way to teach letters, numbers and sets. They are also used in instructional ot therapy to encourage communication and socialization between children. They are a fun and entertaining way to learn about other cultures as well. Dominoes can be used to play games with other people or alone.
In the past, domino also denoted a long hooded cape worn together with a mask at a carnival or masquerade. In fact, the word “domino” seems to have been derived from the French word for cape.
The basic set of dominoes consists of 28 tiles, usually called double-sixes. The tiles are arranged in a pile or a stack, called the stock or boneyard. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock. The player who draws the heaviest tile makes the first play. If there is a tie, it is broken by drawing additional tiles.
While there are many different ways to play domino, most games are based on matching a pair of tiles. Some require matching the pips on the open ends of a tile to those of an already played tile, while other games simply require adding new tiles to a domino chain. Players add tiles to a chain by placing them on their open end against the previous tile’s pips.
When a player makes a mistake, such as playing out of turn, he must recall the misplayed domino. The next player then takes that tile from his hand and places it down. If the player who made the mistake has a double in his hand, he must immediately play it.
Often, the players will agree to a rule change to improve the playability of a game. For instance, some players may agree to let the player to their right take a second tile whenever they play a double. This can help speed up the game and eliminate some strategic mistakes.
Some games are not possible to play with a basic domino set, especially with multiple players. For this reason, some sets are extended to include more than the usual 12 dominoes by introducing more pips on some of the edges. Common extended sets are double-nine, double-12, and double-15.
Although there are many different ways to play domino, nearly all of the games fall into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games. The most popular games in the United States are bidding and blocking.